Speeding over the west-central Bay of Bengal, Fani moved north-northeastwards at about 16 kmph in last six hours and lay centred about 360 km south-southwest of Puri (Odisha), 190 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 550 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal).
It is very likely to move further north-northeastwards and cross the Odisha Coast around Puri, between Gopalpur and Chandbali, by Friday afternoon with a maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph.
The cyclone will likely hit at least 14 Odisha districts - Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Khurda, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar.
Other states on the east coast -- West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu -- are also expected to be affected by the cyclone.
Most severe cyclonic storm since 1999 super cyclone
Fani is the most severe cyclonic storm since the super cyclone of 1999 that claimed close to 10,000 lives and left a trail of destruction in vast swathes of the state, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JWTC).
PTI quoted India Meteorological Department sources saying that it is also the first cyclonic storm of such severity to have formed in April in India's oceanic neighbourhood in 43 years.
Massive evacuation underway
Over 11.5 lakh people in vulnerable, low lying areas of 13 districts are being shifted to cyclone shelters and other safe houses, in arguably the largest evacuation ever before an impending natural calamity, officials said.
People left their home and hearth, on foot and by vehicles, to escape the fury of cyclone Fani in probably the largest evacuation ahead of a natural disaster in the country.
Lugging their valuables, people were seen boarding buses and tempos made available by the administration, or walking to safer places amid drizzle on a windy day, as the sea got increasingly rough.
Around 900 cyclone shelters have been made ready to house evacuees. "Evacuation is in progress on a war-footing," said a senior official.
Educational institution, offices shut
All educational institutions and offices including government and private have been asked to remain closed in 11 districts. They are Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh, Khurdha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak.
Flights cancelled
All flights to and from the Bhubaneswar airport on May 3 stand cancelled due to cyclone Fani, aviation regulator DGCA said. Also, no flight will depart or arrive at the Kolkata airport between 9.30 pm of May 3 and 6 pm of May 4.
"All airlines and operators are informed that due to approaching severe cyclonic storm Fani, flights to and from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will be cancelled between 12 a.m. on May 3 to 11.59 p.m. on May 4. Flights from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata will be cancelled between 9.30 p.m. on May 3 to 6 p.m. on May 4," the DGCA said in a tweet. "Resumption of the flight will be with positive clearance from respective air traffic control," it added.
More than 220 trains cancelled
The trains which have been cancelled include 140 mail/express trains and 83 passenger trains. Railways has pressed into service three special trains to move people to safer places.
A railway official said nine trains have been diverted and four have been short-terminated. "All trains cancelled in Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section (along Odisha coastline) of Kolkata-Chennai route till May 4 afternoon in view of cyclone Fani," he said.
The trains which have been cancelled include the Howrah-Chennai Central Coromandal Express, Patna-Eranakulam Express, New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express, Howrah-Hyderabad East Coast Express and the Bhubaneswar-Rameswaram Express.
The New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express, New Delhi-Puri Nandan Kanan Express, Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express and the New Delhi-Puri Purushottam Express which were scheduled to run on Thursday have been cancelled as well.
The Railways has also cancelled a few trains which were to run on Friday. These include the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and the Puri-New Delhi Nandan Kanan Express.
PM Modi reviewed preparedness
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the preparedness to tackle the situation that might obtain once the cyclone makes the landfall. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Additional Principal Secretary to the PM, the Home Secretary, and other senior officials from the IMD, NDRF, NDMA and PMO.
Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard on high alert
Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have already been put on high alert to meet any eventuality. Personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service have been deployed in vulnerable areas to assist the administration.
Leave of all doctors and health officials have been cancelled till May 15. Leave of all police personnel have also been cancelled and those on leave have been asked to immediately report for duty.
(With inputs from agencies)